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Local business helps seniors change scenery
Matt Nachtrieb/Staff Photo
(L to R) CarolAnne Crossan and Jacki Finley, with A Changing Season, move furniture and other belongings for a client from Sterling House in Denton to Lewisville. This photo is available at www.scntx.com.
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By Chris Roark, Staff Writer
Being a military family, Glenn and Virginia Payn have moved around a lot in their lifetime.
But, they admit that for their most recent move, they wanted some help.
Last week, the Payn’s moved into El Dorado Retirement Residence-Pinewood Hills in Flower Mound after living at their daughter’s house in Coppell for about two and a half years.
That’s where A Changing Season, a first-year business serving Denton County, came in. Run by CarolAnne Crossan and Jacki Finley, the women aim to eliminate the stress of moving for area seniors.
A big stress is the actual packing, Crossan said. So, that’s one of many services offered by A Changing Season, a company involved in the Flower Mound Chamber group Senior Resource Connection. The women saw a need for a business that helps seniors relocate by doing things they often can’t do themselves or have nearby family to help.
“We have heard of too many people who are stuck and need help,” Crossan said. “People would move in to a retirement community but have to sit on their boxes for days. Some places offer services for no charge, but it’s only when they’re available. People in the retirement community started asking us if we would cater to them.”
The services A Changing Season offers, at an hourly rate vary depending on the need of the client. Typically, the women visit the client’s home to discuss what he or she wants to keep. Then they go to the new location to determine the best space plan.
“It’s a remarkable thing to help out seniors,” Finley said. “If you’re moving a family member, it’s hard and stressful. That’s been their home for all those years, so it’s hard.”
Once moving day arrives, the women help pack, hire movers for the big items — they move the delicate items themselves — and then unpack at the new home. Then, they help arrange their dwelling, hanging pictures and advising where to place items. They also arrange for a storage facility, organize estate sales and coordinate donation pick ups.
“All they have to do is come in and sit down,” Finley said. “One lady asked us to arrange everything once she got moved in. Or, we can just hire the movers, and the family can put everything in.”
Sometimes family isn’t available to help, which is how the women thought of their business in the first place.
“We didn’t want to just do staging for realtors or room makeovers,” Finley said. “That was our original thought. A lady at an assisted living home asked us if we ever help seniors move because sometimes their families can’t be there.”
Crossan said they have moved people whose family lives as far away as Michigan.
Finley and Crossan use their expertise to make their business work. Crossan has worked as an interior decorator, and Finley has headed estate sales and has a passion for antiques and art.
They say their career similarities, and personality differences, is what make their business work. Crossan is a down-to-business woman, while Finley can’t pass by a family’s dog without kissing it.
“She’s the business woman, and I’m the touchy-feely person,” Finley said.
Both are touched, though, when they look at what they’re doing and how much they would appreciate it if someone helped them in the same way years from now.
“With the baby boomers coming up, it’s time to think about our parents,” Finley said. “My parents live three and a half hours away. This is an opportunity to help people in the age range of our parents.”
Contact Crossan at carolanne@achangingseason.com or Finley at jacki@achangingseason.com for information.
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